Category: News

Citizens must champion cause of nation in border dispute, says Belize’s Foreign Minister

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Guyana’s citizenry must support the cause of the nation as it continues to seek resolution to Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s territory. More importantly, the local media must ensure that each citizen understands the importance of the issue. These were the sentiments expressed by Belizean Foreign Minister, Wilfred Elrington whose country’s border, like Guyana’s, is being claimed by its neighbour. The border dispute between Belize and Guatemala is also unresolved. As small countries, the support of citizens is critical since border disputes become an “existential issue” for Guyana and Belize, both…

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Ironic that the Govt would accuse old age citizens of ‘double dipping’

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Dear Editor, It is ironic that the Government would salaciously announce that it’s going after those old folks that collect US$90 per month from the Guyana Government and live oversees. This a myopic view of the present government because the leaders don’t see the thousands of US dollars in potential healthcare costs if these old folks that a majority suffers from comorbidities were to live for two years minimum in Guyana. For this reason, paying them a US$1000 per annum to stay away is a bargain. I am pleased that…

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City Hall should have trusted, competent, fair minded persons

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Dear Editor, The report contained in Sunday’s edition of another section of the media, which reveals the deplorable working conditions at the Solid Waste Department of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown is an appalling reminder of the indecency, tactlessness, and the insensitivity of the administration at City Hall. If they can subject their own workers whom they claim to value and appreciate to such unpleasant and harsh working conditions, then one can only imagine what they would do to the citizens of Georgetown whom they hardly…

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There is need for a review of the operations of the CCJ

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Dear Editor, During the last ten years, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has been trying to find takers among the Caricom members. T&T has been resisting ascension to the CCJ and succeeding governments are reluctant to put it to a referendum fearing atonal rejection. There is no referendum whereby the people in any territory have been allowed to say whether they wish CCJ to replace the Privy Council where the judges of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom hear appeals from the Caribbean nations. The only countries that…

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The rice industry could ill-afford this GRDB-induced disaster!

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Dear Editor, Despite serious concerns ventilated by the Guyana Rice Exporters and Millers Association (GREMA) and numerous huge rice exporters, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) through its General Manager, Mr Nizam Hassan was adamant that the contract signed on March 1 this year with two Jamaican companies will not limit the export of rice to Jamaica and that the contractual arrangement will be ‘a plus for Guyana’s rice industry’ resulting in an increase in price per tonne of rice. He had claimed that rice exporters will receive US$400 per…

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Authorities working to remove vagrants from Parliament Building environs – Ramjattan

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The Ministry of Public Security is seeking technical advice on the permanent removal of vagrants who continue to squat around Parliament building. Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said to effectively remove these persons poses “a huge problem” to the Guyana Police Force. Ramjattan pointed out that while on some occasions police have had to place some of the vagrants in holding cells, they would always return to the area once they are released.  “We have a huge problem there…when you start taking them and putting them in the lock-ups because…

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Gov’t still looking for Amaila Falls, Specialty Hospital contracts Harmon

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The Government has been in office for over a year and is yet to set eyes on the contracts for the Amaila Falls Hydro project and the Specialty Hospital. This was today, disclosed to media operatives by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon at a post-Cabinet press briefing. Minister Harmon was at the time responding to a question on the accusations made by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on the Government’s failure to make public the details of contracts which are now being reviewed, awarded and implemented. “I can say this to…

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Oil and the climate

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Guyana stands on the precipice of becoming an oil-producing economy and while the knowledge that oil-producing countries are at an advantage economically is comforting, there is an oxymoronic dynamic that is involved with this particular situation. On one hand, there is Guyana’s push for a “green economy”, which is premised on the reduction of our carbon footprint, while on the other hand, Guyana is advancing the proliferation of oil for economic gains. The end result of which will invariably add to the already colossal greenhouse gas emissions that come with…

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Strangling the manufacturing goose

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The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has suddenly decided to impose duties on imports of goods that are inputs into local manufacturing operations. For example we were informed that containers of textiles destined for Denmore Garment Manufacturing are lying at the wharves because the manufacturer had never been charged the duties now demanded. Consequently Denmore’s calculation of costs and selling prices, which would have been quoted and contracted to its customers (foreign in this instance), will now be thrown out the window. Denmore has to shutter its operations for two weeks…

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Caribbean region must boost efforts to prepare for increased drought – UN report

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United Nations: Climate change is expected to increase the intensity and frequency of droughts in the Caribbean, so countries in the region must enhance their capabilities to deal with this and other extreme weather-related challenges to ensure food security and hunger eradication, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said in a new report. The report, Drought Characteristics and Management in the Caribbean, found that the Caribbean region faces significant challenges in terms of drought, FAO said. “Drought ranks as the single most common cause of severe food…

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